Fjord (noun)
\ fē-ˈȯrd , ˈfē-ˌȯrd; ˈfyȯrd \
A deep body of water between cliffs or steep slopes, carved by glaciers
Example: The fjords of Norway are a popular destination for hikers due to their spectacular scenic beauty.
Fjord Trail (proper noun)
\ fē-ˈȯrd trāl \
A new linear park in the Hudson Highlands, spanning 7.5 walkable, bikeable miles between New York’s Village of Cold Spring and City of Beacon
Example: The Fjord Trail includes jaw-dropping views of the iconic Hudson Highlands. It’s located at the point where glacier activity carved the riverway through the mountains on either side and the water reaches depths of 175 feet.


The Fjord Trail Project
#FJORDTRAIL
Fjords are formed over the course of thousands of years, but the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail won’t take that long! The project is still in the planning phase and you’ll need to wait a while longer before you can tweet “We hiked the #FjordTrail today!”
It will be well worth the wait. The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail will be a linear park along the Hudson River, inviting people of all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in nature and the renowned beauty of the Hudson Highlands.
The Fjord Trail will serve as the gateway to some of the most breathtaking and popular day hikes in the United States, including Breakneck Ridge, Mount Taurus, and Little Stony Point.
Restoring wildlife habitat and easing the burden of heavy recreational visitation on local communities are core components of the Fjord Trail’s mission.
Completion of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is projected for 2027 but you can enjoy some of the connecting elements of the Fjord Trail now.
Planning a Linear Park
Use the links below to see the full project vision, what parts of the project area you can visit today, and learn more about the inspiration for this timeless experience in the Hudson Highlands.
The Big Picture
The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Master Plan is currently in the draft phase, to be presented for public comment later in 2022. Please contact info@hhft.org to receive a copy of the HHFT Master Plan. We’re happy to share once it’s complete!
Reimagining the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail
Collaboration between conservation leaders, local stakeholders, and the design team sparked the re-imagining of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail: once a purely practical solution to congestion management, now a visionary linear park connecting communities to the natural and cultural history of the Hudson Highlands.
Community Engagement
The Fjord Trail Draft Master Plan is the result of years of refinement by local stakeholders, regional entities, and state agencies. Public input has been – and continues to be – fundamental to this planning process. Since the creation of the 2020 Draft Master Plan, HHFT has held nearly 50 stakeholder meetings, public presentations, and visioning sessions. Many of the sessions were recorded and are available for viewing.
Steering Committee
The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is a combined state, regional, and private partnership illustrating the benefits of community collaboration. Nineteen agencies and nonprofit organizations have been working together for years to bring you this inspirational landscape experience... find out who they are!
Our Staff and Board of Directors
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. was formed in January 2020 as an independently managed 501(c)(3) supporting organization of Scenic Hudson, Inc. HHFT is governed by a five-person board of directors and Executive Director Amy Kacala leads a team of four staff members. Our staff will grow to meet the needs of this expansive project, and we’ll be introducing new positions as it develops.
FAQs
When does construction begin? Can I hike the Fjord Trail now? Where will you put all the cars? These questions and more are answered on this section of our website—and if you want to know something not answered here, get in touch with us at info@hhft.org
Photography: Meredith Heuer
Park diagram: RBA Architects
Illustration: Donna Calcavecchio
Master Plan panel photography: Greg Miller
Timeline panel rendering: SCAPE Landscape Architects
Project History panel photography: ScubaBear68;
Color-correcting and cropping 2009-02-04 by
Daniel Case, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Partners panel photography: SCAPE Landscape Architecture
FAQs panel rendering: SCAPE Landscape Architecture